UAE loan for Kenya power project

Thursday, 26 September 2013 09:52

After completion of the project, power will be supplied to 35,460 homes in 66 different areas in 24 states across Kenya. (Image source: Strupey/Flickr)The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development has lent the government of Kenya close to US$100mn for an electricity project

After completion of the project, power will be supplied to 35,460 homes in 66 different areas in 24 states across the country. Another 591 centres, including units selling tea and milk, health centres, government bodies and schools, will also benefit from the project.

China, Belgium and the African Fund for Development have also contributed to the multi-million dollar project.

Kenya’s financial secretary to the national treasury Mutua Kilaka said, “Supplying Kenya’s rural areas with sufficient electricity will help to improve the standard of living of the population, and will also reduce the congestion in major cities in the country as a result of people migrating to it.”

Fifty-two per cent of rural residents have no electricity as per current records.

“The project will enable families to develop the small industries working in the field of production and manufacturing, which reflected positively on the income of the population and the development of local economies”, he added.